COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 252, 2 April 1875, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

ENGLISH COMMERCIAL. Messrs Miles Bros and Co report on February 9th as follows : WOOL. There has been no material alteration in tbe state of our wool markets since our last, and although there is a steady consumption going on, yet the prospects for the coming sales are scarcely so bright as they were, and the parcels which change hands privately are merely taken to meet immediate requirements. It wonld appear that buyers intend dealing cautiously in their purchases at these sales, as there has been a good demand for samples of new wool, which are probably required for testing the waste in scouring. The arrivals to date are as follows : Bales. N. 8. Wales and Queensland ... 17.305 Victoria 100,333 South Australia 3G,:i07 Western Australia W Tasmania • ■• 410 New Zealand 4,659 Cape of Good Hope 41,4.61 Total .. .. 200,792 WHEAT AND FLOUR. The market is dull and inanimate, and although stocks in granary in London arid all the principal portß are remarkably low, millers will not pay higher prices, but are rather disposed to await the arrival of large shipments now nearly due. An advance of is to Is 6d was obtained for cargoes which arrived towards the end of last month, owing to a audden demand from Ireland and the West of England, but this was not maintained, and indeed English wheata are now Is 6d lower than they were at that time. New Zealand wheat may be quoted at from 46s to 18s per 4961b5, and Australian flour from 31S to 31s. TALLOW AND HIDES. The tallow market has shown no improvement. Australian sorts continue in very limited request and prices must be quoted Is to Is 6d per cwt lower for mutton, and Is per cwt for beef. The present value of good to fine New Zealand mutton is 42s to 43s per cwt, and beef tallow 41s to 42s per cwt. The market for salted hides is quiet, and Australian are slightly lower than on the 22nd ult. We quote New Zealand prime 7d per lb, and fair 6sd per lb for both heavy and light weights. NEW ZEALAND HEMP. A large business has lately been done in this fibre in consequence of holders wishing to dispose of their stocks, but a reduction of fully £2 per ton has been submitted to. At auction on the 4th inst, good quality realised from £lB 10s to £2l; fair, £l7 10s, and common, £l6 10s per ton. PRESERVED TINNED MEATS. We cannot quote any improvement in the prices of meats, and business has only been done at poor rates, i.e„ 4fd to 5d for 6's, mutton, Australian brands. Beef is in good demand, and 6's are selling at 6£d per lb for good brands. Melbourne.—The "Argus" of March 20th reforts :—In the Import markets there has certainly een more appearance of business to-day than has been noticeable for some time: Breadstuff's are very firm at our quotations, and sales are making to a fair extent. Flour is quitted at £lO 10s to £lO 12s 6d; only ordinary parcels are, however, disSosed of. Wheat is wanted at very full rates ; we ear of 1100 bags prime quality having changed hands in parcels at 4s 8d net. Oats are firm at the advanced rates now required; in feeding sorts business is pending; quotations range from 4s to 4s 4d. Seed descriptions are particularly wanted, and extreme rates can be realised. Maize is very firm at 6s. Stocks have again been cleared out of first hands. Mauritius sugars meet with a good Inquiry, especially whites, and sales continue to be reported at £35. By the Beaufort, from Mauritius, we have dates from Port Louis to 3rd February. Regarding the vessels loading, the only additions which can be made to those already reported are one vessel of 700 tons, chartered for Melbourne; the Clairellen and Amelia were loading for Sydney, the Julia Ann for Adelaide, the Silver Cloud for Hobart Town, and the May for Wellington. Messrs Scott and Co further report that some rain had fallen during the past month, but not enough, the want of water being particularly felt in some of the windward districts of the island, where the young canes are still suffering from the drought. Holders of Australian descriptions of sugar had to submit to a further reduction of about 10c per 1001 b on white crystals, but the prices of white counters, yellows of all descriptions (which are very scarce), and brewers' crystals were fully maintained. " Since the arrival of the mall some animation has shown itself in our market, and several shipments have been despatched to the colonies." Quotations were—Greyish fair to finest white crystal, 6.60d0l to 7.40d01; good to finest white counters, 6 70dol to 7.40d01; good to extra fine brewers' crystals, <5.50d0l to 7dol; good to finest yellow counters, 6.75d0l to 7.26d01; good to finest yellow countern ranged from 6.50d0l to 7dol; rations, dark to brown, were quoted at 4.75d0l to 5.75d01. Exchange ruled at 5 per cent premium on Melbourne and Sydney, and 5J on Adelaide. Sales of Shoobridge's new Tasmanianhops are making at 2s 6d for brewers' lot. The first shipment of Mr Stephen P. H. Wright's 1875 Golding hops has also arrived from Tasmania. A sample has been sent us; the quality is superior, and likely to please even the most particular. We have already referred to the ravages of the red apider on the crop, and further communications from other sources fully confirm what has already been published. Mr Shoobridgc writes:—" I foar from what I saw the bulk of the hops from the district will be discolored. I send you a newspaper with the report of the gardens; it is substantially correct, and from all I can gather there will be about 70 tons less this than last season." There has been quite a run upon woolpacks, and the price Is rising: We hear of 60 bales and a line of 50 having changed hands at 3s 4d, and it is moreover stated that 3s 4sd was offered for a large parcel, to arrive, and much eagerness appears to be evinced to purchase. Candles are coming into notice. We learn the quittance of another line of 1000 boxes petrolines (Kitchen's) at our quotation of 9Jd for such lines. Sales of Goudas are also mentioned at 10£d. We notice the arrival of the Cingalese, from Calcutta, with the first cargo of the new Patna rice for Messrs Fanning, Nankivell, and Co. Two hundred and fifty tons of tbe cargo are already sold for

transhipment, and the balance of 380 tons is advertised by the broker as for sale privately. Two hundred and fifty tons of the Florence Nightingale's cargo, to arrive, have also been bespoke for Sydney, and the balance is also for sale privately. We are informed of the quittance of a shipment of 100 cases corrugated iron, Orb brand, sft to Oft, at £35. Fifty cases were also disposed of by auction at £34 6s to £36 per ton. 26 gauge. Teas are moving off freely. We learn of the disposal within the last day or two of 3500 chests and half-chests congous, ex Georgina, at and up to Is 6d. A line of 2000 cases Diamond kerosene oil has been placed at Is lfd. The sales of timber comprise 641,526 ft T and G flooring, red and white assorted and beaded, and lining at 6s 3d to 12s 9d. Likewise 461,124 ft Oregon square timber at £7 to £9. In liquids we note the placing of a line of 500 cases of O'Brien's bottled stout at a full price.

Statement showing the amount of Customs duties collected at the port of Lyttelton, according to the several heads of revenue undermentioned, from the 1st to the 31st day of March, 1875, both days inclusive :— £ s. d. Spirits Cigars and 12s per gal .. 4385 13 7 Snuff 6s per lb .. 125 19 0 Tobacco 2s 6d per lb ... 1024 1 6 Wine 4s per gal ... 509 14 9 Ale and Beer, in bottle .. is 3d per gal .. 321 16 3 Ale and Beer, in wood .. Is per gal 42 0 0 Tea 6d per lb .. 1122 13 9 Coffee, Cocoa, Chicory .. 3d per lb 60 1 9 Coffee, roasted .. 5d per lb 0 5 10 Sugar and Molasses.. Id per lb ... 1613 1 4 Goods by weight ... Ad valorem... ,, ... 732 18 7 10 per cent ... 5575 15 1 Other duties. •• ... 1065 14 3 Totals ... £16,581 15 8